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Other Screening Tools

Alcohol Use Disorders Test

The Alcohol Use Disorders Test (AUDIT), a 10-item validated questionnaire, was developed to screen for excessive drinking and, in particular, to help practitioners identify people who would benefit from reducing or ceasing drinking.

The AUDIT may be used as a self-report questionnaire to be completed by patients in the clinic waiting area. In family health teams, allied clinicians may use this tool to assist with patient interactions and interventions. The test can also be used as a re-assessment tool by repeating it at a later time.

CAGE

While the CAGE questionnaire is a commonly used tool for screening, it is not diagnostic and is a less sensitive tool at detecting alcohol abuse. This test can be used in addition to screening; however, for primary screening it is recommended physicians use the screening protocol outlined above.